Robert Orledge
Encyclopedia
Robert Orledge is a leading scholar of early twentieth century French music.
He was born in Bath, Somerset on 5 January 1948 and educated at the City of Bath Boys' School (1958–65) and at Clare College, Cambridge
(1965–71) where he gained a BA (Hons) Music degree in 1968 and an MA in 1972. He was awarded a PhD for his thesis: A Study of the Composer Charles Koechlin
(1867–1950) in May 1973.
In 1964 he was awarded the diploma of Associate of the Royal College of Organists
(ARCO). In 1971 he was appointed as a lecturer in the Department of Music at The University of Liverpool
, being promoted to Senior Lecturer in 1980, to Reader in 1986, and to a Personal Chair in April 1991.
He has completed articles on
Several editions of unknown Satie "discoveries" are now available through Editions Salabert, Paris, and the edition of his 6e Nocturne appeared with Eschig, Paris, in 1994. His latest project is the orchestral full score of Satie's additional music for Gounod
's opera Le médecin malgré lui
(commissioned by Diaghilev
in 1923) from the surviving parts in the Library of Congress
, Washington
, and the vocal score used in Diaghilev's 1924 production (supplied by Ornella Volta).
His research interests focus also on other French composers of 1860–1950:
His main interest lies in composers' working methods, and his musicological "detective" work often seeks to trace the genesis of compositions from different versions and sketches, placing them in their historical perspective and evaluating them critically. He also has a special interest in theatre music. In addition he is writing entries on Satie, Koechlin, Caplet, Emmanuel and Charpentier for the revised New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians
(Macmillan).
Professor Orledge's involvement in the Department of Music in Liverpool includes History Project Work (especially Haydn, Purcell, Debussy and Satie), Aural Training, Style Composition, Orchestration, Analysis and Dissertation supervision (especially postgraduate).
Since taking early retirement from the University of Liverpool in 2004, Robert Orledge has become a 'creative musicologist', completing the unfinished theatrical and other projects of Debussy. These include the opera 'The Fall of the House of Usher' (1915–17), first performed at the Bregenzer Festspiele on 7 August 2006 in a production by Phyllida Lloyd and now available on DVD Capriccio 93517; No-ja-li ou Le Palais du Silence'(1914), first performed in Los Angeles on 8 May 2006, conducted by Ransom Wilson; 'Fetes galantes' (1915); 'La Saulaie' (1899–1900); 'Nocturne' for Violin and Orchestra (1893–96); 'Poeme' for Violin and Orchestra (1910–14); as well as orchestrations of 'Diane au bois' (1881–85); the 'Proses lyriques' (1892–93); the 'Chansons de Blitis' (1898) and the 'Second Suite Bergamasque' (1904). These are all available from Ego Parade Press, Brighton (robertorledge@gmail.com). He also composes his own music and his score for a new version of 'Petrushka' was commissioned by the Arts Council in 2007 and performed by the Krazy Kat Theatre Company in its April–May 2008 tour.
He was born in Bath, Somerset on 5 January 1948 and educated at the City of Bath Boys' School (1958–65) and at Clare College, Cambridge
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
(1965–71) where he gained a BA (Hons) Music degree in 1968 and an MA in 1972. He was awarded a PhD for his thesis: A Study of the Composer Charles Koechlin
Charles Koechlin
Charles Louis Eugène Koechlin was a French composer, teacher and writer on music. He was a political radical all his life and a passionate enthusiast for such diverse things as medieval music, The Jungle Book of Rudyard Kipling, Johann Sebastian Bach, film stars , travelling, stereoscopic...
(1867–1950) in May 1973.
In 1964 he was awarded the diploma of Associate of the Royal College of Organists
Royal College of Organists
The Royal College of Organists or RCO, is a charity and membership organisation based in the United Kingdom, but with members around the world...
(ARCO). In 1971 he was appointed as a lecturer in the Department of Music at The University of Liverpool
University of Liverpool
The University of Liverpool is a teaching and research university in the city of Liverpool, England. It is a member of the Russell Group of large research-intensive universities and the N8 Group for research collaboration. Founded in 1881 , it is also one of the six original "red brick" civic...
, being promoted to Senior Lecturer in 1980, to Reader in 1986, and to a Personal Chair in April 1991.
He has completed articles on
- SatieErik SatieÉric Alfred Leslie Satie was a French composer and pianist. Satie was a colourful figure in the early 20th century Parisian avant-garde...
's SarabandeSarabandeIn music, the sarabande is a dance in triple metre. The second and third beats of each measure are often tied, giving the dance a distinctive rhythm of quarter notes and eighth notes in alternation...
s (1887) for Music and Letters, and on VexationsVexationsVexations is a noted musical work by Erik Satie. Apparently conceived for keyboard , it consists of a short theme in the bass whose four presentations are alternatively heard unaccompanied and played with chords above...
(1893) (published by Music and Letters in 1998). - A chapter on "Debussy and Satie" in DebussyClaude DebussyClaude-Achille Debussy was a French composer. Along with Maurice Ravel, he was one of the most prominent figures working within the field of impressionist music, though he himself intensely disliked the term when applied to his compositions...
Studies (ed. Richard Langham SmithRichard Langham SmithRichard Langham Smith is an English musicologist who has written on Debussy and contemporary French music in general....
) is since April 1997 available through Cambridge University PressCambridge University PressCambridge University Press is the publishing business of the University of Cambridge. Granted letters patent by Henry VIII in 1534, it is the world's oldest publishing house, and the second largest university press in the world...
.
Several editions of unknown Satie "discoveries" are now available through Editions Salabert, Paris, and the edition of his 6e Nocturne appeared with Eschig, Paris, in 1994. His latest project is the orchestral full score of Satie's additional music for Gounod
Charles Gounod
Charles-François Gounod was a French composer, known for his Ave Maria as well as his operas Faust and Roméo et Juliette.-Biography:...
's opera Le médecin malgré lui
Le Médecin malgré lui
Le Médecin malgré lui is a comedy by Molière.-Characters:*Sganarelle, a woodcutter*Martine, Sganarelle's wife*Géronte, a wealthy bourgeois*Lucinde, Géronte's daughter...
(commissioned by Diaghilev
Sergei Diaghilev
Sergei Pavlovich Diaghilev , usually referred to outside of Russia as Serge, was a Russian art critic, patron, ballet impresario and founder of the Ballets Russes, from which many famous dancers and choreographers would arise.-Early life and career:...
in 1923) from the surviving parts in the Library of Congress
Library of Congress
The Library of Congress is the research library of the United States Congress, de facto national library of the United States, and the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States. Located in three buildings in Washington, D.C., it is the largest library in the world by shelf space and...
, Washington
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, and the vocal score used in Diaghilev's 1924 production (supplied by Ornella Volta).
His research interests focus also on other French composers of 1860–1950:
- Gabriel FauréGabriel FauréGabriel Urbain Fauré was a French composer, organist, pianist and teacher. He was one of the foremost French composers of his generation, and his musical style influenced many 20th century composers...
, - Claude DebussyClaude DebussyClaude-Achille Debussy was a French composer. Along with Maurice Ravel, he was one of the most prominent figures working within the field of impressionist music, though he himself intensely disliked the term when applied to his compositions...
, - Charles KoechlinCharles KoechlinCharles Louis Eugène Koechlin was a French composer, teacher and writer on music. He was a political radical all his life and a passionate enthusiast for such diverse things as medieval music, The Jungle Book of Rudyard Kipling, Johann Sebastian Bach, film stars , travelling, stereoscopic...
and - Germaine TailleferreGermaine TailleferreGermaine Tailleferre was a French composer and the only female member of the famous composers' group Les Six.-Biography:...
.
His main interest lies in composers' working methods, and his musicological "detective" work often seeks to trace the genesis of compositions from different versions and sketches, placing them in their historical perspective and evaluating them critically. He also has a special interest in theatre music. In addition he is writing entries on Satie, Koechlin, Caplet, Emmanuel and Charpentier for the revised New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians
Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians
The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians is an encyclopedic dictionary of music and musicians. Along with the German-language Musik in Geschichte und Gegenwart, it is the largest single reference work on Western music. The dictionary has gone through several editions since the 19th century...
(Macmillan).
Professor Orledge's involvement in the Department of Music in Liverpool includes History Project Work (especially Haydn, Purcell, Debussy and Satie), Aural Training, Style Composition, Orchestration, Analysis and Dissertation supervision (especially postgraduate).
External links
Since taking early retirement from the University of Liverpool in 2004, Robert Orledge has become a 'creative musicologist', completing the unfinished theatrical and other projects of Debussy. These include the opera 'The Fall of the House of Usher' (1915–17), first performed at the Bregenzer Festspiele on 7 August 2006 in a production by Phyllida Lloyd and now available on DVD Capriccio 93517; No-ja-li ou Le Palais du Silence'(1914), first performed in Los Angeles on 8 May 2006, conducted by Ransom Wilson; 'Fetes galantes' (1915); 'La Saulaie' (1899–1900); 'Nocturne' for Violin and Orchestra (1893–96); 'Poeme' for Violin and Orchestra (1910–14); as well as orchestrations of 'Diane au bois' (1881–85); the 'Proses lyriques' (1892–93); the 'Chansons de Blitis' (1898) and the 'Second Suite Bergamasque' (1904). These are all available from Ego Parade Press, Brighton (robertorledge@gmail.com). He also composes his own music and his score for a new version of 'Petrushka' was commissioned by the Arts Council in 2007 and performed by the Krazy Kat Theatre Company in its April–May 2008 tour.